This week in netball: Africa Netball Cup comes to a close as Victorian M-League begins
PLENTY of netball action has played out this week, with the Africa Netball Cup coming to a close as the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball (M-League) competition started back up for the first time since 2019. We run through all the biggest news you may have missed during the week.
Netball Australia hasofficially announced its new partnership with My Little Pony, to ‘celebrate kids finding their sparkle’. The partnership involves a series of virtual content, including an online training session and a Q&A with campaign ambassador, Australian Diamonds and Queensland Firebirds goal attack Gretel Bueta.
Jessica Murphy, SVP Entertainment Brand Marketing and AMPAC Entertainment One, welcomed the new relationship between My Little Pony and the Australian Diamonds.
“My Little Pony embraces the uniqueness of the individual and encouraging kids to explore their passions and reach their full potential,” Murphy said.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Origin Australian Diamonds on our family-first campaign, energising kids everywhere to ‘Find Your Sparkle’ with the Diamonds.”
Bueta said she is delighted at the opportunity to help kids shine in their individuality, explaining her excitement at being a positive influence in the netball space for young kids and aspiring Diamonds in the making.
“If you’re young with energy to burn, netball is the perfect game to participate in,” Bueta said.
“As well as providing important physical and social benefits, netball gives kids a chance to be part of a team, work together, push themselves and each other. By training together, winning together, and losing together, children learn teamwork and a sense of belonging.”
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games netball schedule has been confirmed, with the exciting announcement also seeing the top six qualified nations split into two group pools. Australia, Jamaica and South Africa have been named in Group A, while Group B pits New Zealand, England and Malawi against one another. Later in the week, Rookie Me Central posed the question of whether there is an “easy” group at this early stage, with six teams still yet to qualify.
The Africa Netball Cup also came to a close this week, with South Africa named champions following an 8-0 undefeated record throughout the series, while Uganda and Malawi finished second and third, respectively, with Uganda earning the silver off the back of a daring comeback and draw against the Malawi Queens in their finish match of the series. Series hosts, Namibia finished in fourth, marginally ahead of Zimbabwe on goal difference, with the two nations finishing on 4-4 apiece. Zambia (three wins) followed in sixth, while Kenya and Botswana (both two wins) came next with Tanzania finishing on the bottom with no wins to their name.
South Africa captain, Bongi Msomi was named both player of the series and best midcourter, with teammate Phumza Maweni named best defender, and Malawi Queens goal shooter Jane Chimaliro named best goaler for the series.
Two more Suncorp Super Netball clubs in the Melbourne Vixens and NSW Swifts announced their first lot of training partners for 2022, while the Sunshine Coast Lightning added another three to its existing list. Meanwhile, in exciting news this week to men’s and mixed netball fans, the Victorian M-League returned at full capacity for the first time in over 700 days. Both the Men’s Premier Division and Mixed Premier Division provided plenty of entertainment as players shook off the cobwebs, showcasing some of the very best netballing talent the state has to offer.
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Suncorp Super Netball
Should there be a cap on Suncorp Super Netball imports?
First crop of 2022 training partners announced // Vixens and Swifts announce training partners as Lightning top up existing trio
International
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games netball schedule confirmed
Birmingham 2022 schedule: Is there an “easy” group?
International netball updates: Africa Netball Cup – Days 4-6 // Africa Netball Cup – Days 7-8
The recent rise of the South Africa Spar Proteas
M-League
VIC M-League Premier Men’s and Mixed 2021/22: Team lists
Round 1 Premier division wraps: Men’s // Mixed
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